You Won’t Believe How Much The Rolling Stones Pay Their Backup Singers

Currently touring the world for their extended 50th anniversary celebrations, and checking into Australia this October, The Rolling Stones are on track to deliver one of the highest grossing tours in history.

The legendary four-piece have already topped a list of the highest grossing touring musicians, estimated to have earned over $1.5 billion dollars (just one of five bands to break the billion dollar barrier) from touring since 1990.

But that might have more to do with the Stones’ thrifty production budget as much as it is ticket demand according to controversy that’s surfaced over the band’s recent performance in Israel after one of the band’s backup singers claims they were paid less than $60 for their part in the grand scale concert.

The legendary rock quartet played Tel Aviv for the first time ever in their career on Wednesday 4th June, performing at Park Hayarkon in front of an audience of 50,000, concluding with an encore performance of ‘You Can’t Always Get What You Want’ where the Stones were joined on stage by a local choir from Tel Aviv University’s School Of Music (as fan footage on Youtube seen below shows). One of the students in the choir posted a complaint that the group were only paid 220 shekels (approx. AU$ 61.84) for their work

According to Israeli publication Mako (via Digital Music News), following the performance, one of the students in the choir posted a complaint online to the band’s Facebook page (which has allegedly been removed) that the group were only paid 220 shekels (approximately AU$ 61.84) for their work on three rehearsals and the Park Hayarkon concert, which is estimated to have generated US$ 6.7 million. (We’re betting that regular Stones backup singer Lisa Fischer gets a much better cut.)

Rolling Stones representatives replied with “no comment” when asked about the performance fees, while commenters in the Mako article argued it was ‘shameful’ and ‘disrespectful’ to the guest singers, while others said the complaining chorister was merely ‘whinging’ since many would take on a chance to perform with the Stones without payment.

[include_post id=”406377″]

The Stones’ Tel Aviv debut had already drawn media attention after members of fellow British rock legends Pink Floyd called upon the band to reconsider playing Israel as part of a pro-Palestinian boycott campaign.

In an open letter published to Salon, Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters and Nick Mason urged Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and co. to scrap their first-ever Isreali concert to demonstrate solidarity with the Palestinian people and their struggle against occupation as part of the BDS (Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions) movement.

The Stones not only went ahead with the show, but promoters Shuki Weiss Promotion and Production even delayed the opening of the Park Hayarkon concert by 45 minutes to allow devout Jews to reach the performance after the conclusion of the religious holiday of Shavout – during which Orthodox Jews cannot drive or handle money.

The British rockers are set to hit Australia this October to play their rescheduled ’14 On Fire tour dates, after postponing their original shows in March after the shock sudden death of Mick Jagger’s long-term girlfriend L’Wren Scott.

The Rolling Stones Australian Tour 2014

Saturday 25 October – Adelaide Oval, Adelaide

Wednesday 29 October – Perth Arena, Perth

Saturday 01 November – Perth Arena, Perth

Wednesday 5 November – Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne

Saturday 8 November – Hanging Rock, Macedon VIC

Wednesday 12 November – Allphones Arena, Sydney

Saturday 15 November – Hope Estate, Hunter Valley

Tuesday 18 November – Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane

Get unlimited access to the coverage that shapes our culture.

Subscribe to Rolling Stone magazine

Subscribe to Rolling Stone magazine